Ub Iwerks invented the multiplane camera with movable cameras and parallaxing/zoom [1]
The first multiplane camera, using movable layers of flat artwork before a horizontal camera, was invented by former Walt Disney Studios animator/director Ub Iwerks in 1933, using parts from an old Chevrolet automobile. His multiplane camera was used in a number of the Iwerks Studio's Willie Whopper and Comicolor cartoons of the mid-1930s.
Ub Iwerks is the same guy that created/drew Mickey Mouse[2] and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, two cartoons that got Disney animation going.
American animator, cartoonist, character designer, inventor, and special effects technician, who co-created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse. The works Iwerks produced alongside Walt Disney went on to win numerous awards, including multiple Academy Awards
Iwerks was instrumental in getting Disney started. Walt was the Steve Jobs and Ub was the Woz.
Even though Ub and Walt were best friends, Iwerks pretty much got effed over by Disney and later left to go to MGM to make Flip the Frog [3] and other animations.
It is sad most people don't know Ub Iwerks created Mickey Mouse and parallax via the multiplane camera tech/machine and many other things, nor his impact on animation and animation technology.
Ub Iwerks son, Don Iwerks [4], later worked at Disney and on 20,000 leagues under the sea, and some other neat stuff and is a Disney Legend member. Like his dad he later went to start his own thing in Iwerks Entertainment after 35 years at Disney.
In 1954, Iwerks got a camera technician position for the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, starring Kirk Douglas and Peter Lorre. He would spend the next 30 years driving film innovations for the Disney company. Notable contributions include the first 360 film techniques, 360-degree camera, and first Circle-Vision 360 film, America the Beautiful, and developing the process for creating seamless live action shots with animated backgrounds.
In 1985, after nearly 35 years at Disney, Don left to form his own company called Iwerks Entertainment. Iwerks became a leading developer of special films, special venues, and virtual reality theaters throughout the world.
Ub Iwerks really should get more respect as he created early Disney and it wouldn't have happened without him probably. Typical doer that ended up getting effed over and should be more recognized for the guy that created Mickey Mouse and Disney tech, he just didn't have the business prowess that Walt had.
Despite a contract with MGM to distribute his cartoons, and the introduction of a new character named “Flip the Frog”, and later “Willie Whopper”, the Iwerks Studio was never a major commercial success and failed to rival either Disney or Fleischer Studios.
He did attract the legendary Chuck Jones[5] to work with him though, Chuck went on to create some of the best animation and cartoons ever with WB.
Newly-hired animator Fred Kopietz recommended that Iwerks employ a friend from Chouinard Art School, Chuck Jones, who was hired and put to work as a cel washer.
Ub would probably hate what Disney has become but he was instrumental in helping create the magic of the early days.
If Ub was alive today he'd probably be making adult swim/cartoon network type cartoons or stuff like Pixar made pushing tech limits. His granddaughter made the documentary 'The Pixar Story'[6]. The Iwerks family and legacy towards animation/movie tech should be more known, especially Ub.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplane_camera
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ub_Iwerks
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip_the_Frog
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Iwerks
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Jones
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pixar_Story